Until recently, the only options for adults seeking straighter teeth were braces or Invisalign — but that’s no longer the case. Today, teeth straightening services like SmileLife offer a safe, convenient, and affordable alternative by delivering clear aligner treatment directly to your home.
SmileLife is an Ireland-based newcomer to the industry. They’ve built a single dental office into a significant player in the home aligner game, delivering quality, convenient treatment to customers across the UK. But is SmileLife the right fit for your smile goals? Read on to find out!
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Is SmileLife Legit?
Go with SmileLife and you’ll be in good hands. They offer fast and affordable teeth straightening treatment from home, and guarantee their results too.
Founded out of Dr. Ada Murphy’s dental office, SmileLife has established convenient procedures and excellent customer service, eliciting numerous positive customer reviews.
What is SmileLife?
Dr. Ada Murphy has been practicing orthodontics in Ireland for more than 30 years. In 2017, she started offering quality clear aligner treatment to patients at home, so she founded a company called SmileKit that operated out of her clinic. The company expanded rapidly and has since rebranded as SmileLife.
Here’s how it works: After analyzing molds of your teeth, SmileLife will send customized clear aligners to your home, and you can complete the entire process without a single office visit. They ship anywhere in the UK, and to select international locations. SmileLife is just one of several home aligner companies that have sprouted up across the UK in recent years, but they’ve already established themselves as one of the best.
SmileLife doesn’t jump out ahead of the competition in any one area, but they do everything well and offer solid, consistent treatment.
You could call SmileLife a jack of all trades. They might not advertise exceptionally low promotional prices or industry-leading treatment times, but their customers are almost always satisfied with their results, so it appears that they provide reliable and detail-oriented treatment.
Like other home-based clear aligner products, SmileLife is primarily a cosmetic treatment. Their aligners are designed specifically to correct mild-to-moderate cases of spacing and crowding issues, along with some minor bite conditions. If your case is severe, you may see better results from a treatment plan managed in person by a dentist, like braces or Invisalign.
How Does SmileLife Work?
To create a personalized treatment plan for your unique teeth, SmileLife’s dental team needs to analyze your tooth positions. This means you’ll need to complete an impression kit.
Once you’ve submitted your impressions, send them back to SmileLife so their dentists and orthodontists can confirm whether you’re a good candidate for treatment. If you are, they’ll develop your custom treatment plan and send you a digital preview of your post-treatment smile.
If you like what you see, you can give them the go-ahead to produce and ship your custom aligners. You’ll wear each aligner set for 22+ hours per day — or ten hours for their nighttime-only plan — and your teeth will gradually move to form your new smile. The entire process typically takes around six months for the standard daytime plan and up to ten months for nighttime treatment.
Pros & Cons of SmileLife
Before you decide to move forward with SmileLife treatment, it’s a good idea to weigh the benefits and drawbacks to make sure it’s the right fit for you. We’ve sifted through the details of SmileLife’s service offerings and compiled a list of the most important pros & cons to keep in mind.
SmileLife Pros
- As part of their Smile Guarantee, if you’re unhappy with your results and have followed your prescribed treatment plan, SmileLife will provide additional aligners for free.
- SmileLife is already less expensive than in-office options like Invisalign, but they also offer multiple financing options, including one that doesn’t require a credit check. So, you can choose the option that best fits your budget.
- If you only need treatment on your top or bottom teeth, SmileLife offers a single-arch option that costs less than their standard plan.
- Most of SmileLife’s online reviews are positive, particularly regarding customer service, and it appears that they respond quickly to customer complaints.
- SmileLife requires photo check-ins every 30 days so their dental team can make sure that your treatment stays on track. It’s not as intensive as in-person oversight, but it still helps you avoid potential issues.
SmileLife Cons
- At £1,497, SmileLife’s sticker price might be lower than traditional orthodontics, but it’s higher than some competitors, and their financing plans increase the total cost.
- SmileLife doesn’t have any physical clinics in the UK where you can receive teeth scans, so you’ll need to use an impression kit to get started.
- Unlike some of their competitors, SmileLife doesn’t include a set of retainers in your treatment price, so you’ll need to purchase them separately. It’s £164.40 per year to enroll in their SmileCare subscription, which provides new retainers and whitening every year.
- SmileLife includes an IPR plan and tools to help make space in between the teeth to aid movement. However, this procedure is typically conducted in person by an orthodontist, not self-administered.
So, Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?
We think so. SmileLife is an effective treatment with a lot of satisfied customers already. Their prices might be slightly higher than average, but their treatment is still more affordable and convenient than traditional orthodontic methods. If you have a mild misalignment, they could be an effective option.
Effectiveness
Just like other home-based clear aligner treatment products, SmileLife is designed to address simple misalignment issues like minor spacing and crowding, not more severe cases and bite issues. This is why the impression kit is so important, and SmileLife’s dental team will let you know right away if their treatment can achieve the results you want.
Even though their aligners aren’t as powerful and versatile as Invisalign and other in-office aligners, SmileLife still delivers quality products and safe, reliable results.
SmileLife uses licensed dentists and orthodontists to create your treatment plan.
Once SmileLife determines that you’re a good candidate for treatment, they’ll get to work developing your aligners. Who’s behind this development? They’re all licensed dentists and orthodontists, and SmileLife’s website suggests that Dr. Ada Murphy (SmileLife’s founder) is also involved.
According to SmileLife, Dr. Ada Murphy “has trained and overseen every case to date to ensure the highest quality of results for our customers.” It’s unclear to what extent Dr. Murphy is involved in the treatment process, but her presence gives us confidence in SmileLife’s effectiveness since she has over 30 years of dental and orthodontic experience.
Remote check-ins every 30 days let SmileLife’s dentists continuously monitor your progress.
Every month, you’ll take and upload photos of your teeth through SmileLife’s mobile app. That means a dental professional will examine your smile (virtually) regularly throughout treatment, so they can identify and address small issues before they become big ones, helping make sure you get the smile you want.
SmileLife manufactures their aligners in-house.
Some home aligner companies make it known that they work with well-established clear aligner manufacturers, which means they’re getting widely trusted materials and processes. SmileLife, however, produces aligners in their own lab, which has both positive and negative implications.
In-house manufacturing means that SmileLife isn’t getting the time-tested products and procedures of an established manufacturer. However, it also means that they can supervise every step of the process and ensure a high level of quality control. Both methods are capable of delivering effective aligners.
As long as you follow your prescribed treatment plan, SmileLife will provide refinements for free (if you need them).
Sometimes a smile just needs a few more tweaks after treatment wraps up. Certain companies charge extra for these “refinements,” but not SmileLife. If you’ve followed their treatment plan exactly (wearing your aligners for the proper duration each day, changing aligner sets on schedule, etc.), they will cover the cost of your extra aligners. This guarantees that you’ll get the results you were initially promised.
SmileLife is the only provider we review that includes an IPR plan and tools in their aligner packages.
Interproximal Reduction, or IPR, is the practice of using a small metal strip to remove plaque and calculus buildup between your teeth. SmileLife says this allows them to move more effectively and includes a custom IPR plan and tools for applicable cases, which is uncommon among at-home aligner companies.
Many clear aligner treatments require IPR, but this procedure is typically completed in person by an orthodontist.
Not all SmileLife patients need IPR. Your treatment plan will indicate whether IPR is recommended for your particular circumstance.
Affordability
A major benefit of home teeth straightening systems like SmileLife is the price point, especially compared to traditional treatments. The rise of at-home teeth alignment technology has increased access to orthodontic treatment for a large percentage of people. Home aligner products typically cost between £1,200 and £2,400, significantly more affordable than most in-office treatments, which can cost £3,000 or more.
But while SmileLife’s price outshines their in-office competitors, it’s just average among their at-home peers.
The total cost to purchase an aligner kit from SmileLife is £1,497 for daytime aligners and £1,797 for nighttime ones.
This sticker price covers the cost of your treatment plan and all of your clear aligners, but not the £70 impression kit, which you can occasionally find on sale for as low as £20. If you only need work on one arch (top or bottom), this price drops to £1,297. Either way, you’ll also need to purchase aftercare retainers. SmileLife’s Smile Care plan provides retainers and whitening products every year — along with an electric toothbrush and replacement heads — for an annual fee of £164.40. It’s a pretty solid deal considering that retainers are around £333 on their own.
They also offer a “FastLane” treatment plan, which reviews your impressions/scans quicker, creates your treatment plan faster, delivers your aligners faster, and includes free whitening. This plan requires an additional deposit, or the total amount up front.
SmileLife offers a few different payment plan options.
Even though SmileLife is much cheaper than braces or Invisalign, not everyone has £1,497 sitting under their mattress or in a sock drawer. To make treatment more financially accessible, SmileLife offers a few flexible payment options:
- 1 Pay Deposit: A £250 deposit, then £1,247 30 days later (no credit check)
- 3 Pay Deposit: A £250 deposit followed by three monthly payments of £467 (no credit check)
- Klarna Pay: 24 monthly payments of £70 (credit check required)
These are for the standard daytime aligner plan. If you choose single-arch treatment or nighttime-only aligners, you’ll have similar options, but the amounts will be slightly different.
Of course, with any plan, the cheapest way to go is to pay the entire amount up front if you can swing it. Each of these payment plans ends up costing more in the long run.
If your insurance plan has orthodontic benefits, you might receive direct reimbursement for your treatment.
Public health insurance doesn’t typically cover orthodontic treatment (especially cosmetic treatment), but if you have private insurance with orthodontic benefits, you might be eligible for reimbursement. You’ll need to check with your provider to find out.
Convenience
By cutting office visits out of the equation, home aligners have developed a much more convenient treatment process. Finding time to visit the dentist’s office in between all of your other responsibilities might not top your priority list. After all, it’s not exactly a trip to the beach. Plus, traditional orthodontic treatments aren’t always fast. If you have a special event coming up this year (not two or three years down the road) and want to finish treatment ASAP, your adjustments might not be complete in time.
SmileLife is unquestionably more convenient than Invisalign or braces. But compared to other at-home aligner providers, they’re about average.
To get started, you need to purchase and complete an impression kit.
Many customers find that the most difficult part of at-home teeth straightening is getting started. To create your treatment plan, the company will need a way to analyze your current smile. Most at-home aligner companies, including SmileLife, offer a kit that you can use at home to make a mold of your teeth. Using these molds, the company can determine whether you’re a good candidate and, if so, prepare your treatment plan. But most people have never taken a mold of their own teeth, so the impression kit can be challenging.
Some providers mitigate this issue by providing clinics where trained professionals will take intraoral scans of your teeth instead. SmileLife has one office in Dublin, but most customers will need to order an impression kit.
SmileLife strongly recommends booking a video consultation to complete the impression kit. During this call, a customer service representative will walk you through the entire process. And if you make a mistake, you can order a new impression kit and they’ll refund you if you choose to purchase aligners later.
Expect to wait around six weeks total before you start treatment.
After you order your impression kit, assuming you complete and send back the kit ASAP, you can expect to receive your treatment plan in 2–3 weeks. Once you approve the plan, SmileLife will take around another 25 working days to produce and send your aligners.
Their FastLane option is significantly quicker. If you go this route, SmileLife will create your treatment plan in 2–3 days and manufacture your aligners 16 working days after that.
Treatment takes 4–6 months on average.
This is pretty standard for home aligner treatment. No matter which UK home aligner company you choose, you’ll likely be looking at a six-month treatment timeline. It can vary, though, depending on your condition severity and how diligently you follow your treatment plan. If you have a more severe case of spacing and/or don’t wear your aligners consistently, it will likely take longer than six months.
SmileLife also offers a nighttime-only aligner plan.
If you’d rather not wear your aligners for 22+ hours per day, you don’t have to! SmileLife also has a nighttime treatment plan that requires just ten hours of daily wear. This option takes an average of 6–10 months and costs £1,797. But if all-day wear simply won’t work with your schedule or lifestyle, the extra time and money might be worth it.
Appearance
Adults hoping to straighten their teeth often want the least visible option. Many are reluctant to attend an interview, date, meeting, or special occasion sporting metal brackets. For this reason, clear aligners’ low profile — especially when compared to braces — is a key selling point. Because they’re so discreet, clear aligners tend to score well in terms of appearance, and SmileLife is no exception.
That said, each brand looks slightly different because of variations in materials and manufacturing procedures, and everyone has different tastes, so which looks best is up to you.
SmileLife produces their aligners with smooth, shiny plastic.
SmileLife uses a shiny, BPA-free plastic, quite different from the slightly frosted aligners from SmileDirectClub or Invisalign. Many people think frosted aligners look somewhat more natural than shiny ones because teeth are naturally porous. Those pores make natural teeth appear matte, not smooth and shiny, so matte aligners may draw less attention.
But different people have different aesthetic preferences, and some customers actually like the shininess because it makes their smiles “gleam.” You should consider your own aesthetic preferences when weighing your options.
They also cut their aligners straight across the top rather than trimming them to match your gum line.
SmileLife cuts their aligners straight across at the top (rather than scalloped to follow the gumline like Invisalign), which affects their appearance and effectiveness. Since the aligners overlap the gums, others may be able to see the edge when you smile, but most customers don’t find straight-cut aligners more noticeable than scalloped ones.
Besides, straight-cut aligners serve an important function. A straight cut, though arguably less ideal appearance-wise, can leverage the gums and grip the teeth better, applying up to 4X more force.
SmileLife’s aligners do not incorporate attachments, maintaining their low profile.
With in-office clear aligner treatments like Invisalign, a dentist will typically place special attachments on the teeth that help anchor the clear aligners in place, shifting the teeth more effectively. These attachments might increase your aligners’ power and versatility, but they also increase visibility.
Because at-home aligners like SmileLife don’t involve in-person visits, they can’t incorporate attachments, so you won’t have any noticeable hardware on your teeth.
Like other clear aligner brands, you’ll want to take out your aligners before eating and drinking to avoid stains.
All clear aligners are susceptible to stains from food and beverages — that’s why it’s important to remove them before eating or drinking anything other than plain water. Our current understanding is that SmileLife aligners are reasonably stain-resistant, although we certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking coffee or red wine with your aligners in.
Customer Experience
We know SmileLife can effectively transform your smile. We know they’re an affordable alternative to in-office options. And we know exactly how to get started and streamline your treatment. But what about the day-to-day aligner journey? You might think you’ll only need to know about customer support, refund policies, and warranties if something goes wrong, but they each play a significant role in your experience.
In-person care shines here, and it’s tough for remote companies to match that level of personalization. That said, SmileLife is responsive on multiple communication channels, guarantees their results, and generally creates a pleasant customer experience.
You can reach SmileLife’s customer support team via phone, email, webchat, or even video call.
SmileLife provides a few different customer support avenues and offers extensive online resources, so getting your questions answered is fairly easy. SmileLife is available by phone, email, webchat, and mobile app. Based on online reviews, they’re responsive and helpful on all four. They’re pretty active on social media, too, so you can also reach out on Facebook or Instagram.
If you prefer face-to-face conversations, a member of their customer support team will jump on a video call with you to answer your questions or assist you with any part of the process.
And you might not even need a customer service rep to find the answers you need. SmileLife’s FAQ page is extensive and full of great information, so you can probably find what you’re looking for there.
SmileLife’s photo check-ins provide feedback from their team every month and streamline communication with customer support.
Their mobile app makes it easy to upload photos of your teeth every 30 days, and these check-ins give their team a chance to address any issues that might affect your experience further along in your treatment. SmileLife’s team can provide feedback based on your photos, and you can also contact their customer support representatives directly through the app.
SmileLife backs up their treatment with a satisfaction guarantee.
They might not have an extensive refund policy, but SmileLife will make sure that you finish with the results they initially promised.
If you complete an impression kit and SmileLife’s dentists determine that you’re not a suitable candidate, they will refund the price of the kit. But after you sign on for treatment and they manufacture your aligners, you can’t receive any refunds.
SmileLife still wants to ensure you get the desired results, though. So, if you finish your aligner treatment plan and your smile doesn’t match the original preview they sent, they’ll provide more aligners for free. This only applies, however, if you diligently followed your treatment plan by consistently wearing your aligners for 22+ hours per day (or ten hours per day for nighttime treatment), completing monthly photo check-ins, and changing your aligners on schedule. You must notify SmileLife within 30 days of completing treatment if you would like to request a re-evaluation.
What Are SmileLife Customers Saying?
When we review a company like SmileLife, we start by digging through online user reviews to understand the common issues customers face. As a relatively young company, SmileLife doesn’t have a huge customer base writing reviews online, but the reviews they have are largely positive. Most customers appreciate their attentive customer service and convenient treatment, as well as how involved SmileLife is in the process.
Some customers reported inconsistent communication or broken products specifically concerning the SmileCare aftercare subscription. Some others also expressed disappointment with their results, although many are very satisfied with their new smiles.
SmileLife vs. Invisalign
One of the primary differences between at-home clear aligners like SmileLife and in-office ones like Invisalign is price. Invisalign is, on average, about 2–4 times as expensive as SmileLife. That said, there’s another important difference to keep in mind: Invisalign can correct much more severe cases of misalignment than SmileLife.
With Invisalign, you’ll receive hands-on care. This means your dentist can incorporate elastics and other attachments into your treatment plan to achieve more advanced and intricate teeth movements. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible with SmileLife.
All in all, for severe cases of crowding, spacing, or bite issues, in-person care is the best option. But if you’re simply looking to correct a mild-to-moderate dental misalignment, an affordable at-home provider like SmileLife can achieve the results you’re after.
SmileLife vs. Other At-Home Aligners
SmileLife is a great clear aligner company, and we’re confident they will provide a wonderful treatment experience. But you shouldn’t jump to a decision without weighing all your options, both in-office and at-home. Invisalign is the primary in-office option, and while it is more expensive than home aligners, dentists can achieve more advanced teeth movements by adding attachments. The at-home aligner field is more crowded, and there are a couple of great options worth considering.
SmileLife vs. Straight Teeth Direct
Straight Teeth Direct is one of the only other home aligner companies with remote monitoring services and a mobile app, and it gives them a leg up in effectiveness and customer service. Much like SmileLife, they will provide extra aligners to achieve your ideal smile (if necessary). But Straight Teeth Direct has lower initial prices and their in-house financing doesn’t require a credit check. Straight Teeth Direct’s commitment to quality, innovative technology, and reasonable prices make them one of the best options out there.
SmileLife vs. PlusDent
PlusDent got their start in Germany, but has since expanded to over eight European countries, including the UK. Uniquely, PlusDent only begins treatment with an in-person scan. These scans are convenient, and much less complicated than at-home impression kits. However, this does limit who can receive PlusDent treatment to those near a physical location. Unlike SmileLife, PlusDent does not offer a nighttime-only treatment. PlusDent has two tiers of treatment based on the complexity of your condition: Standard (£1,890), and Pro (£2,390). Once you begin treatment, PlusDent keeps track of your progress via photos you’ll upload through their proprietary app.
SmileLife vs. SmileDirectClub
Here we have a relative newcomer versus the industry’s largest and most experienced brand. SmileDirectClub has treated over 1.5 million customers since 2014, and they show no signs of slowing down. Their numerous SmileShop locations, combined with their nighttime-only treatment option, makes their treatment incredibly convenient. And their £1,639 price tag isn’t bad either. SmileDirectClub’s brand power, nighttime treatment, and extensive physical network make them a great option for just about anyone.
SmileLife vs. NewSmile
SmileLife and NewSmile are both new to the UK aligner scene, and their similarities don’t end there. Like SmileLife, the only way to begin treatment with NewSmile is to complete an at-home impression kit. Plus, both providers offer convenient nighttime-only treatment. The main difference between SmileLife and NewSmile is value. Though NewSmile has a lower price tag (£1,295), they pack your aligner package full of extras, like an impression kit, aftercare retainers, and free whitening.
Summary - Is SmileLife Right for You?
SmileLife’s treatment might not be leagues beyond the competition in any specific area, but they do everything well and provide a safe, effective, affordable teeth-straightening option. If you’re feeling drawn to them, you’ll likely receive high-quality treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SmileLife offer discounts?
Sometimes! You can occasionally catch a promotion or sale directly on the SmileLife website that knocks £100–£200 off of your aligners. Other than that, you won’t typically find any SmileLife coupons or discounts elsewhere online.
Can SmileLife correct my condition?
It depends. SmileLife is extremely effective in treating mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing, but it might not be able to correct jaw misalignments like overbite, underbite, crossbite, etc. The only way to know for sure is to complete an impression kit. After evaluating your teeth, SmileLife’s dental team will let you know if their aligners can make the necessary shifts.
What about Invisalign?
The clear aligner originator has its own set of unique benefits, most notably in-person care. During regular face-to-face checkups, your dentist or orthodontist can make adjustments to your treatment and add attachments that allow Invisalign to treat a wider scope of cases. SmileLife is faster and less expensive, but Invisalign is a great option if your condition is severe or you’d prefer to meet with your dentist in person.
How much will I end up paying?
Even though SmileLife’s sticker price is £1,497 (or £1,797 for nighttime treatment), numerous factors can influence cost, including discounts, financing, insurance, and more. In most cases, you won’t end up paying exactly £1,497, but it will likely be close. For example, at the end of your SmileLife treatment, you’ll need to purchase a retainer plan for £164.40 per year (that is, if you want to keep your smile straight long term!). Make sure you consider all pricing factors before making your commitment.
How do I get started?
To determine your treatment candidacy and develop your aligner plan, SmileLife’s dental team needs to analyze your teeth. Order, complete, and submit an impression kit and they’ll let you know if you’re eligible for treatment.
How long will it take?
SmileLife’s average treatment time is 4–6 months for daytime treatment and 6–10 months for their nighttime plan, but each case is unique. There’s a good chance that your case will fall around six months, but it could take longer or even shorter depending on the complexity of your condition.
Does insurance cover SmileLife’s treatment?
The UK’s public healthcare rarely covers orthodontic care for adults. It may provide coverage if the treatment is medically necessary, but that’s rarely the case for home aligners. If you have private insurance, you may receive partial coverage, but you’ll need to check with your provider to find out.
What is the most effective clear aligner company?
It’s tough to beat the power and versatility of in-office options like Invisalign, ClearCorrect, SureSmile, and 3M Clarity Aligners. They can all treat severe misalignments and even bite issues.
Do clear aligners hurt?
When you switch to a new aligner set every two weeks, you might experience some discomfort for the first day or two, but after that, you’ll hardly notice them.
Is home aligner treatment safe?
Yes! While administering treatment from home might seem daunting, the process is very safe. Home aligner companies use licensed dentists and orthodontists to create your treatment plan and design your aligners. Even though you won’t meet with them in person, each company offers quality customer support services if something doesn’t feel quite right.
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